Vale Dr Burt Zerner

Former professor in biochemistry and former University Senator Dr Burt Zerner died on October 12, 1997, aged 66.

Dr Zerner was a member of University staff from 1955 until his early retirement in 1993, with the exception of four years during the period 1959 to 1963.

After entering the University on an Open Scholarship in 1949, he graduated BSc in 1952. He continued studying at the University, graduating DipEd (1953) and MSc (1957) and PhD in physical-organic chemistry (1960).

Trained as a science teacher, Dr Zerner taught in high schools before joining the University as a teaching fellow in the Chemistry Department in 1955.

He returned to the University in 1963 as a senior research fellow in the Biochemistry Department before being promoted to senior lecturer in 1964 and reader in 1965.

He was appointed to a personal chair in biochemistry in 1970 and served as head of the Biochemistry Department until 1971.

Upon his retirement, the Biochemistry Department's Annual Report described Dr Zerner as 'a major force in raising the research profile of the Department [of Biochemistry] and of the University'.

The Report noted: 'He taught a generation of students at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level to aim for the highest standards.'

Dr Zerner's research was highly regarded overseas and he received many invitations to speak at major universities.

He was a foundation member of the Alumni Association, former president of the Staff Club and a member of the Development Committee. He was a member of the American Chemical Society and the Chemical Society, London, and an Associate of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.